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Author Topic: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6  (Read 111929 times)

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Offline levoui

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #75 on: May 29, 2017, 12:51:04 PM »
Lots of questions here. Let me clarify a couple of them ...

1. Battery run time: Alkaline AA batteries perform poorly for a wide range of digital electronics, such as digital cameras etc. We recommend using NiMH re-chargeables. The higher the mAh spec the longer you'll get. We've been getting over 2 1/2 hours for 4x 2500mAh NiMHs. Over 5 hours when using the 8x caddy. AA primary lithium batteries also work well (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-L91BP-8-Ultimate-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B0000DC4EL

Paul

Found an old set of NiMHs, powered them up and got 2.5hours of recording time out of them. Problem solved. This is a really really sweet little machine. Been making field recordings in my basement checking run times and the preamps are dead quiet.  Ive also been checking the sound of my double bass at different spots in the room and the MixPre-3 is capturing it beautifully. I can only imagine the quality using better mics. Onto my Remics and a Troll ribbon mic for some three channel comparisons I guess. Thanks!!!
Schoeps MK4 / MK21 / DPA 4022 / Rode NT4 / NT5 omni caps
SD MixPre-3 / SD MixPre-D / Edirol R-09HR

Offline goodcooker

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #76 on: May 29, 2017, 03:26:02 PM »
Another suggestion...  Would it be possible to slave/master two units through the hdmi or aux ports?  That way you can manipulate two boxes using one and have time synced recordings?


This was asked and answered in the previous thread and the answer unfortunately was no.
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Offline justink

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #77 on: May 29, 2017, 03:29:51 PM »
Another suggestion...  Would it be possible to slave/master two units through the hdmi or aux ports?  That way you can manipulate two boxes using one and have time synced recordings?


This was asked and answered in the previous thread and the answer unfortunately was no.

Right. It's not a current feature. But if the R-44 can do it, I'm sure the MixPre can as the manual mentions syncing through the aux port for video (iirc).

My question was more or less for future updates. Since we're making a list...
Mics:
DPA 4023 (Cardioid)
DPA 4028 (Subcardioid)
DPA 4018V (Supercardioid)
Earthworks TC25 (Omni) 

Pres and A/D's:
Grace Design Lunatec V3 (Oade ACM)
Edirol UA-5 (bm2p+ Mod)

Recorders:
Sound Devices MixPre10 II
Edirol R-44 (Oade CM)
Sony PCM‑M10

Offline PoC2

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #78 on: May 29, 2017, 05:44:54 PM »
My MixPre-6 wish list includes 4 channel trim link and it would be rather neat to have a BWF marker inserted into the file by pressing the play button during recording.

Such a lovely, compact, and versatile unit.

Offline justink

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #79 on: May 29, 2017, 09:39:34 PM »
No digital in is a big hang up for me.

With most venues/bands going to digital boards, a digital in is most convenient.

The aux in isn't ideal for a board feed either (if available).

I know this wasn't designed for us exactly, but man...  why not a coax in?
Mics:
DPA 4023 (Cardioid)
DPA 4028 (Subcardioid)
DPA 4018V (Supercardioid)
Earthworks TC25 (Omni) 

Pres and A/D's:
Grace Design Lunatec V3 (Oade ACM)
Edirol UA-5 (bm2p+ Mod)

Recorders:
Sound Devices MixPre10 II
Edirol R-44 (Oade CM)
Sony PCM‑M10

Offline Gordon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #80 on: May 29, 2017, 09:46:36 PM »
I don't tape at that many venues but I have never encountered a digital in from the board.  Or it's never been offered......
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Offline justink

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #81 on: May 29, 2017, 09:58:34 PM »
I don't tape at that many venues but I have never encountered a digital in from the board.  Or it's never been offered......

Lately I've run into the case more and more where they only have digital outs and not the typical analog "tape out" (either xlr or rca). From my understanding, most digital boards don't have analog outs. Except one time I got a single XLR and the soundman had to assign it as a main out (more work and hassle for them and he only did it because Mike Doughty told him to give me whatever I needed).

Digital outs are "yeah plug in here".
Mics:
DPA 4023 (Cardioid)
DPA 4028 (Subcardioid)
DPA 4018V (Supercardioid)
Earthworks TC25 (Omni) 

Pres and A/D's:
Grace Design Lunatec V3 (Oade ACM)
Edirol UA-5 (bm2p+ Mod)

Recorders:
Sound Devices MixPre10 II
Edirol R-44 (Oade CM)
Sony PCM‑M10

Offline PoC2

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #82 on: May 30, 2017, 05:47:25 AM »
I wonder if firmware updates will overwrite any internally saved presets?

I hope not.

Though I guess I should back them up to the card as well, just to be safe.

Offline rippleish20

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #83 on: May 30, 2017, 09:25:02 AM »
I don't tape at that many venues but I have never encountered a digital in from the board.  Or it's never been offered......

Lately I've run into the case more and more where they only have digital outs and not the typical analog "tape out" (either xlr or rca). From my understanding, most digital boards don't have analog outs. Except one time I got a single XLR and the soundman had to assign it as a main out (more work and hassle for them and he only did it because Mike Doughty told him to give me whatever I needed).

Digital outs are "yeah plug in here".

I've gotten board patches at a lot of shows in the last couple of years and I have never encountered one that didnt have analog out. And a large percentage of them were digital boards.
AKG C480B (ck61, ck63, ck8) /  Neumann KM100 (AK40, AK50) / AT853s  (cardiod, omni) / CA-14 (cardiod) / CA-11 (Omni) / Mixpre-10t / Mixpre-6 / Roland R-07 / Zoom F-3
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Offline rocksuitcase

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #84 on: May 30, 2017, 09:55:08 AM »
In the thread. kindms and I are thinking of buying the 6. Battery run times seem widely varying. Do we think this has to do with phantom powering?
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Mics:         AKG460|CK61|CK1|CK3|CK8|Beyer M 201E|DPA 4060 SK
Recorders:Marantz PMD661 OADE Concert mod; Tascam DR680 MKI x2; Sony PCM-M10

Offline johnw

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #85 on: May 30, 2017, 11:19:00 AM »
In the thread. kindms and I are thinking of buying the 6. Battery run times seem widely varying. Do we think this has to do with phantom powering?

Here's what has been reported so far.

levoui: MP3 - 42m29s on 4 AAs running phantom on two channels. (Rode NT4 and NT5); 55 minutes (4 Duracell)
old and in the way:  MP3 - 2.37 hrs 4 aa sled Phantom on (telefunkin m60's)
mitchellm: MP3 - 1:55 4 Eneloop rechargeable batteries, fully recharged (AT BP4025 stereo mic)
tgakidis: MP6 - 2hours 35min off 4 powerex 2600mah rechargeables.  Phantom 4 channels, Akg 460 & Telefunken m60

Hard to tell if the variability is due to batteries or the type of mics used. Looks like if you've got Telefunken m60s you should get around 2.3 hours though

Schoeps MK41 & MK4V  |  Schoeps CMC6, Schoeps KCY, AKI/2C, PFA, Nbox Cable/PFA  |  Grace V2, Nbox Platinum  |  SD744T, SD MixPre 6, Sony PCM M10

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Offline Todd R

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #86 on: May 30, 2017, 11:40:59 AM »
Hard to tell if the variability is due to batteries or the type of mics used.

Ted's testing is confusing though.  2.5 hours off of a 4.8v (4x1.2v) 2600 mah powerex battery pack implies a power draw of about 5 watts.  Same setup testing a 20000 mah external battery getting a bit under 6 hours doesn't make sense. 

Assuming like many of these USB companies, the 20,000 mah is the rating of the internal li-ion battery not the rating at the 5v output, even given allowances for internal conversion efficiency to a 5v USB output, the 20,000 mah external battery getting under 6 hours of runtime implies a power draw of about 10 watts.

Hopefully that is a bum battery or a bad test, but given Sound Devices input on runtimes and even Ted's powerex test, I'd hope that a 20,000 mah battery would provide 10 hours or more of runtime.  Says me who just bought a 20,000 mah battery and who wants it to power the MP6 for at least 7 hours.  :P
Mics: Microtech Gefell m20/m21 (nbob/pfa actives), Line Audio CM3, Church CA-11 cards
Preamp:  none <sniff>
Recorders:  Sound Devices MixPre-6, Sony PCM-M10, Zoom H4nPro

Offline tgakidis

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #87 on: May 30, 2017, 12:08:32 PM »
Hard to tell if the variability is due to batteries or the type of mics used.

Ted's testing is confusing though.  2.5 hours off of a 4.8v (4x1.2v) 2600 mah powerex battery pack implies a power draw of about 5 watts.  Same setup testing a 20000 mah external battery getting a bit under 6 hours doesn't make sense. 

Assuming like many of these USB companies, the 20,000 mah is the rating of the internal li-ion battery not the rating at the 5v output, even given allowances for internal conversion efficiency to a 5v USB output, the 20,000 mah external battery getting under 6 hours of runtime implies a power draw of about 10 watts.

Hopefully that is a bum battery or a bad test, but given Sound Devices input on runtimes and even Ted's powerex test, I'd hope that a 20,000 mah battery would provide 10 hours or more of runtime.  Says me who just bought a 20,000 mah battery and who wants it to power the MP6 for at least 7 hours.  :P

To clarify, my test was with rechargeable AA batteries, not a battery pack.  I got 5hrs 49min off a 20,000mah USB Powerbank .
GAKables: Custom XLR, Digi & Batt Cables http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=133186.0

Mics: Schoeps CMC6 x 4, Schoeps CMC1K x 2 / Schoeps KC 5G x 2 / Schoeps MK4,MK41,MK21,MK22 x 2 / Austrian Audio OC818 Dual Set+ / Telefunken TF-11 x 2 / Telefunken ELA M 260 x 4 / Telefunken M960FS x 2 / TK60,TK61,TK62 x 2 / Telefunken M60,TK60 x 2 / AKG c426b / AKG c34 / nBob AKG Actives>PFA x 4 / CK61,CK63,CK8 x 2 / AT853 4.7k Mod (Card,Sub)
Pres: Sonosax SX-AD8+ / Sonosax SX-M2D2 / Sonosax SX-M2 / Lunatec V3
Recs: Sonosax SX-R4+ / Sound Devices MixPre-6ii / Marantz PMD-661 / Roland R-07 / Zoom F3

My Recordings: https://archive.org/search.php?query=taper%3A%28Gakidis%29&sort=-da

Offline johnw

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #88 on: May 30, 2017, 12:41:13 PM »
I think Todd got that - that's why he calculated 4x1.2V. If your Powerbank is really 20k mAh, my bet is that your Powerbank is old or going bad. That said, I definitely know less about batteries and power than Ted, so I'm probably wrong. Maybe power over the AA sled is somehow twice as efficient as over USB C.
Schoeps MK41 & MK4V  |  Schoeps CMC6, Schoeps KCY, AKI/2C, PFA, Nbox Cable/PFA  |  Grace V2, Nbox Platinum  |  SD744T, SD MixPre 6, Sony PCM M10

Canon 16-35mm/2.8L mkii, 24-70mm/2.8L, 70-200mm/2.8L IS, 50mm/1.8 mkii, 135mm/2L, 100mm/2.8L IS, Sigma 35mm/1.4 A  |  Canon 5D mk4

Offline Todd R

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6
« Reply #89 on: May 30, 2017, 01:40:43 PM »
Yes, got that, I guess set of AA batteries rather than AA battery pack is the more correct terminology.  4AA rechargeable batteries wired in series is 1.2v*4 = 4.8v.  2600 mAh is 2.6 Ah.  2.6*4.8 = 12.5 Watt-Hrs, divided by (rounding) 2.5 hours of runtime is a 5 Watt draw for the MP6.

For the external pack, 20,000 mah is probably the rating of the internal li-ion (or li-poly) cells, which are at 3.7v.  The 3.7v needs to be converted to a 5v output.  Assuming conservatively that that conversion is 80% efficient, you have 3.7v * 20 A-hr * 80% = 59 Watt-Hrs.  Divided by 5.8 hours of runtime (5 hours, 49 minutes), you get a power draw of 10 Watts for the MP6.

Either the Mixpre-6 is very inefficient somehow when powered by the USB-C input, or the 20,000 mAh battery pack is old or wasn't fully charged.  At least, so says me who is hoping for way better runtimes of a 20,000 mAh battery pack.

Sorry for all the math, just wanted to be clear what I was assuming for anyone trying to follow my calculations.
Mics: Microtech Gefell m20/m21 (nbob/pfa actives), Line Audio CM3, Church CA-11 cards
Preamp:  none <sniff>
Recorders:  Sound Devices MixPre-6, Sony PCM-M10, Zoom H4nPro

 

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